CN1242628A

CN1242628A - Low profile electrical connector for flat circuits

Info

Publication number: CN1242628A
Application number: CN99110603A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 国师信介
Original assignee: Molex LLC
Current assignee: Molex LLC
Priority date: 1998-07-17
Filing date: 1999-07-16
Publication date: 2000-01-26

Abstract

An electrical connector (1) is provided for flat circuits. The connector includes a low profile housing (3) having a bottom face (3a) and a front end (9). The front end has an elongated opening (5) for receiving an end of a flat circuit inserted into the opening in a direction generally parallel to the bottom face (3a). A plurality of mounting recesses (11) are provided in the bottom face (3a) spaced longitudinally along the opening. A plurality of terminals (4) are mounted through the bottom face (3a) of the housing and include mounting sections (21) inserted into the mounting recesses (11). The terminals include contact sections (17) for engagement with appropriate conductors of the flat circuit at the opening.

Description

The electrical connector for flat circuits of low profile

The present invention is generally relevant with the electric connector technology, and concrete isoplanar circuit comprises that the connector of soft planar circuit, flexible printed wiring board and similar circuit is relevant.

For the termination planar circuit such as soft planar circuit, can adopt multiple electrical connector.Usually, this electric connector all is the connector of zero insertion force.Such electric connector is to use operating device to come the bias plane circuit on the elastic contact or binding post of connector shell according to a conventional method.These operating devices may push/pull-out; Perhaps, can freely insert at first permission circuit this connector shell the enable possition and second planar circuit is fastened between the off-position on the binding post rotate.

In some applications, wish that very the planar circuit connector is thin as much as possible.In other words, wish that connector has one " low profile ".Then all the more so when particularly making connector be installed on plated circuit plate or the similar device, the height of this situation lower connector on printed circuit board (PCB) is a main factor of considering.

Unfortunately,, planar circuit run into some problems, because terminal generally includes the mounting portion or cylinder is used at connector shell internal fixation terminal for providing the low profile connector.When terminal is inserted into the front portion of shell or rear portion (generally being to be parallel to the circuit board face of settling shell), the mounting portion of terminal need have living space on short transverse, and this just and then increased the thickness or the height of connector.The present invention provides a kind of superior electrical connector for flat circuits at addressing these problems, its terminal is to install by a bottom surface of connector shell.

One object of the present invention promptly provides a novel improvements type electrical connector for flat circuits with above-mentioned characteristic.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, connector has comprised a low profile shell with bottom surface and front end.Provide an elongated open at front end, be used for accepting to insert along the direction that is parallel to the bottom surface end of the planar circuit of this opening, upper edge, the bottom surface opening that many installation grooves are arranged on shell vertically separates.Many terminals are installed by the bottom surface of shell, and comprise the mounting portion of inserting in the above-mentioned installation groove.On above-mentioned elongated open, terminal has the contact-segment of isoplanar circuit engagement.

As disclosed in this, the mounting portion of terminal is to separate along the direction section of being in contact with it that is in substantially parallel relationship to the shell bottom surface.These mounting portions comprise that inserting the shell bottom surface installs the interior erection column of groove.In most preferred embodiment, the shell bottom surface is used for being installed on the surface of printed circuit board (PCB).Terminal comprises the general concordant afterbody that is used for being connected to circuit trace suitable on the printed circuit board (PCB) with described bottom surface.

Here the contact-segment of Shuo Ming each terminal is a branch that is generally terminal U-shaped part.This branch is positioned at a side of elongated open, and another branch is positioned at then that an operating device movably is installed on the shell on the relative side of elongated open, in order to the bias plane circuit to a branch that constitutes contact-segment on the terminal.Between operating device and binding post second branch, be provided with auxilliary mutually mutual mesh rotary device.

Other target, feature and advantage of the present invention will become fully aware of by the detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.

Of the present invention these are believed novel and feature ingenious will accurately be set out in the appended claims, and the present invention and target thereof and advantage can get the best understanding by following detailed description to accompanying drawing.Identical label has been represented identical assembly among these figure.Wherein:

Fig. 1 is the thin profile electrical connector top perspective, and wherein operating device is in open mode.

Fig. 2 is with the similar view of Fig. 1, different just wherein operating device be in closed condition.

Fig. 3 is the bottom perspective view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is the front and back sectional view of a connector, and wherein operating device is in closed condition.

Fig. 5 is similar with Fig. 4, and wherein operating device is in open mode.

The detailed description of most preferred embodiment

In more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.At first with reference to accompanying drawing 1-3, the present invention is embodied as a kind of electric connector, generally represents with symbol 1, is used for planar circuit (not shown) of termination.This connector also is used to be installed on the printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown), in order to connect planar circuit to printed circuit board (PCB).Generally speaking, connector 1 comprises: the shell of a single-piece, general represent with understanding numbers 3, molded by insulating material such as plastics or similar material, an operating device, generally represent with symbol 2, be rotatably mounted on the above-mentioned shell, and can turn to the state of opening (Fig. 1) or closing (Fig. 2 or Fig. 3), also have a series of conducting terminals, generally represent with symbol 4, along laterally with equidistant form separately on shell 3, under the operating device 2 under the open position of the operating device of Fig. 1, planar circuit such as plane flexible circuit, one end of similar circuit such as flexible printed circuit board can be inserted in the elongated open 5 with the zero insertion force state.Operating device can turn to off-position (as Fig. 2, shown in 3) subsequently with the contact-segment of bias plane circuit to terminal 4, will mention below this contact-segment.

More particularly, the outer seat of the insulation 3 a pair of suspension shape arms 8 that a terminal standing part 7 arranged and stretch out forward from terminal standing part 7.This shell has a bottom surface 3a and front end 9.Elongated open 5 is arranged on the front end 9, and bottom surface 3a is designed to be installed on the upper surface of a printed circuit board (PCB).Therefore, planar circuit can insert opening 5 with the direction (that is to say, be roughly parallel to the upper surface of printed circuit board (PCB)) that is parallel to bottom surface 3a.A series of terminal receiving channel 10 is arranged on the 3a of shell bottom surface, as shown in Figure 4, and each groove 10 same installation groove 11, and a terminal admits cavity 12 to be communicated with.This cavity 12 is to open wide facing to shell bottom surface 3a.

Operating device 2 on the connector 1 also is the parts of a single-piece, and it can be molded with insulating material such as plastics etc.The plate 13 of the normally rectangle that this operating device comprises has two motion arms 14.The size of rectangular slab 13 is fit to be contained between two cantilevers 8 of shell 3.The size of motion arm 14 is customized in the grooved area 3b that can be contained in shell 3.Rectangular slab 13 has two columniform boss 15 (Fig. 3), is formed in the opposite ends of rectangular slab, is used to insert the cylindrical hole (not shown) on cantilever 8 inboards of shell.Cylindrical boss can be rotatably installed on operating device on the shell effectively.With reference to Fig. 4, and simultaneously with reference to figure 1,2, operating device has the slotted eye 16 of a series of perforations to open in the top of rectangular block 13 anterior angle simultaneously, and this moment, operating device was in closed condition.Groove 10 on slotted eye 16 and the shell 3, groove 11 and cavity 12 are aimed at.

With reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, each terminal 4 all be scale off from conductor metal plate of material upper punch and comprise a normally part 4a of U-shaped, this part determines first and second branches 17 and 19 again, they are positioned on the opposite side of elongated open 5.Branch 17 is contact-segments of terminal, comprises that a contact jaw 17a is used for the lead of plane of action circuit.Pedestal 20 extends and comprises a mounting portion that stretches upwards 21 and a weldering tail lead-in wire 22 that extends back from the U-shaped part 4a of each terminal backward.This solder taul is usually concordant with the bottom surface 3a of shell 3, in order to for example by being welded to connect the proper circuit trace on printed circuit board (PCB).

Terminal 4 is installed at the end of shell 3 of connector 1.Especially, as at Fig. 4, seen in fig. 5, terminal is installed on the shell by arrow " A " direction indication.Terminal mounting portion 21 is inserted into by interference fit in the installation groove 11 of shell 3 terminal is remained in the shell, after installing fully, the contact-segment 17 of terminal is just suitably located, so that engage with the planar circuit lead of the elongated open 5 that is inserted into shell.

Generally speaking, auxilliary mutually mutual engagement rotation is installed and is located between operating device 2 and the binding post 4, helps operating device to rotate between its position of opening and closing.More particularly, refer again to Fig. 4,5, each terminal 4 comprises a recessed pivot section 23, is positioned at the far-end of top set 19, be used to receive a pivoting cam 24, this cam 24 generally have one roughly the pressure face 24a of semicircle be contained in the recessed pivot section 23 of terminal.Cam 24 also has a plane 26, and when operating device 3 was opened, this plane was just in the face of elongated open 5,3, as shown in Figure 5.

In the operation of operating device 2, when it is in as shown in Figure 5 opening, the plane 26 of cam 24 is just in the face of opening 5 and allow planar circuit to insert this opening under the zero insertion force state.When operating device forwarded closed condition to, as shown in Figure 4, the pressure face 24a of semicircle exerted pressure the lead of these planar circuits of bias voltage that they are engaged with the contact portion 17a of termination contact section 17 to the top of planar circuit.

At last, have a pair of be generally L shaped fixed part or be called be contained on the opposite side of shell 3 " cooperate with nail " 27, be used for connector is fixed to plated circuit.Parts 27 are made and be can be soldered to by metal material on the printed circuit board (PCB) on selected pad or the solder joint, and the also available screw of this fixed part is fixed on the plate so that connector is fixed on this plate.

Should know that the present invention can also implement with other ad hoc fashion and do not depart from spirit of the present invention or its central feature, therefore, object lesson that provides previously and embodiment, all should be thought of as from every side is with explaining rather than restrictive, thereby the restriction of this invention detail of not being subjected to here being given.

Claims

1. the electric connector (1) that is used for planar circuit comprising:

A low profile shell (3), it comprises bottom surface (3a) and front end (9), have an elongated open (5) and be used to receive an end of the planar circuit that inserts this opening, this direction of insertion generally is parallel to the shell bottom surface, series installation groove (11) on shell bottom surface (3a) vertically separates along opening (5); With a series of terminals (4), be mounted to bottom surface (3a) by shell (3), comprise the mounting portion (21) of inserting described installation groove (11) simultaneously, terminal comprises that contact-segment (17) is used for engaging at the suitable lead of above-mentioned opening part isoplanar circuit.

2. the described electric connector of claim 1, the mounting portion (21) of the terminal of wherein addressing (4) is to separate with contact-segment (17) on the direction of the bottom surface that is roughly parallel to shell (3) (3a).

3. at the electric connector described in the claim 2, the mounting portion of wherein said terminal (4) comprises the erection column (21) in the installation groove (11) that injects shell bottom surface (3a).

4. the described electric connector of claim 1, the bottom surface (3a) of wherein said shell (3) can be installed on the upper surface of printed circuit board (PCB).

5. the described electric connector of claim 4, wherein said terminal (4) comprises the afterbody (22) that the bottom surface (3a) of general same shell (3) is concordant, is used to be connected to proper circuit trace on the printed circuit board (PCB).

6. the described electric connector of claim 1, the contact-segment of wherein said each terminal comprise a branch (17) that is roughly U-shaped part (4a) of terminal (4).

7. the described electric connector of claim 6, wherein said branch (17) is positioned at a side of described elongated open (5), and second branch (19) that is roughly U-shaped part (4a) of each terminal (4) then is positioned on the opposite side of this elongated open.

8. the described electric connector of claim 7, it also comprises 1 operating device (2), is installed in movably on the shell (3), is used for the described branch (17) of bias plane circuit to the contact-segment that constitutes terminal (4).

9. electric connector described in the claim 8, it comprises auxilliary mutually mutual mesh rotary device (23,24), is located between second branch (19) of operating device (2) and described terminal (4).

10. the electric connector of planar circuit (1), it comprises:

A low profile shell (3), this shell (3) comprising: bottom surface 3 (a), it is fit to be installed in the upper surface of a printed circuit board (PCB), a front end (9), it has an elongated open (5) and is used for the end of acceptance along the planar circuit of the direction insertion that is parallel to bottom surface (3a), and a series of installation groove (11) that vertically separates at upper edge, described shell bottom surface opening (5);

A series of binding posts (4), be mounted to the bottom surface (3a) by shell (3) and comprise: insert the erection column (21) in the described groove (11), be used for the contact-segment (17) that circuit suitable lead in isoplanar is located to engage at opening (5), usually be used for the continuous afterbody (22) of the circuit trace that adapts on the printed circuit board (PCB) with the bottom surface (3a) of shell is concordant, and the fixed leg (21) of terminal (3), the latter separates with contact-segment (17) on the direction that is roughly parallel to shell bottom surface (3a).

11. the described Electricity Federation of claim 10 device, wherein the contact-segment of each terminal comprises a branch (17) of the part (4a) that roughly takes the shape of the letter U on the terminal (4).

12. electric connector described in the claim 11, a wherein said branch (17) is positioned at a side of described elongated open (5), and second branch (19) of the part (4a) that roughly takes the shape of the letter U on each terminal (4) then is positioned at a relative side of elongated open.

13. electric connector described in the claim 12 comprises an operating device (2), it movably is installed on the shell (3), is used for the described branch (17) of bias plane circuit to the contact-segment that constitutes terminal (4).

14. electric connector described in the claim 13 is included in the auxilliary mutually mutual mesh rotary device (23,24) between second branch (19) of described operating device (2) and terminal (4).